Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1887-04-27
SAGELY STATED. !.
Charles Anceny, of Moreland
Montana Foots up the Cause
and Effect
OF the Last Winters Live Stock
Losses-Alaska the Der
nier Resort.
THE TRUTH.
The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the
Truth

The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the
Truth.
The all absorbing questions of the
past two months, both from at home
and abroad have been what are the
cattle losses and how will they affec,
the cattle business? The old proverb
Many men Of many minds" has
found ample application in this con,
nection, but from out the mass OF tes'
timony given the preponderance has
been that Losses have been exaggerated
and that the industry, so fsr
from being crippled, has simply
gravitated TO basis founded on bus.
iness principles ON which il will rise
shorn Of all hurrsh, brass bands and
other nonsense, including extrava-
gance In the conduct Of the business.
Pertinent TO this subject is commun-
ication to the Montana Live Stock
Journal, written by Chas. Anceny, of
Gsllatin county, one of the oldest aud
most experienced COW men Of Mon.
tans, which emtodies so much sense
and truthful information that we give
Il in full:
Editor Montana Live Stock Jour-
nal:-ln compliance with your re-
quest 10 report on the loss of cattle In
this territory, / am of the opinion
that, Ia general, the losses have been
exaggerated. In certain localities the
cattle have suffered great deal; ID
many other places they have been
spared aud in some localities the
losses are no greater than the usual
annual losses, which are generally
estimated at 5 per cent. Admitting
tlat the next most favored places
have lost MS many again, 10 per cent,
and that the most unfortunate locali-
ties have lost ~ per cent. Ia few .x-
ceptional places might have suffered
heavier losses the average loss among
native cattle would be no more than
Is per cent, which believe is not faI
from the right proportion. But when
we have to make the estimate OF LOSE
on trail or pilgrim cattle, there is nc
comparison. They are the ones tina,
make the loss Of cattle in Montana
appear greater than ii really Ia. The
loss Of pilgrim cattle is at least so per
cent, and in some places nearly all
have perished.
These facts are not new 10 US. We
know from past experience that ma
tive cattle have great advantage over
the new cOmere. We know that
when our ranges were In much better
condition than they are now, less cat
tie on haEd,-in fact. less stock OF all
kinds and more grass,-even then at
certain times some herds OF trail cattle
driven into this territory nearly all
perisbed the first winter. while some
of them wintered well enough. Mon
tana can only answer for her share Of
awbacks. Our neiShboriDg terri
tories are not exempt from calamities
of q similar nature. Oregon, Idaho
aud Utah have lost cattle and sheep,
some winters, rs have Colorado, Wy
oming, New Mexico and Texas; the
paradise for cattle. occasionally me,
with heavy losses Of live stock. TAX
ing oil things into consideration
Montana has been favored as much al
any stock country In the west. Th'
truth of the matter IL, that the time
when Montana was inviting the out
side live stock TO come and partake o.
the advantages Of her ranges 10 rast
tor now Montana has ell the liv,
stock she can fairly support. Thos'
whv desire TO engage In cattle raising
had better buy their cattle already
located; this is advisable for all thu
territories Of the northwest. A hero
Of cattle already located and acclimat
cd 10 worth more than as much AGAR
a. herd transported from another
country. All the territories OF th'
west are covered with live stock u
cir utmost capacity except, perhaps
Arizona, which might accommodate
more cattle. From there the adven
turers In cattle handling will have Il
seek Alaska as q dernier resort
Therefore, as we speak for our terri
tory, the cattle transactions should b
done at home; there are enough cattl,
for sale In our midst 10 supply all who
desire to buy, and II the purchaser
have to pay little more for the Mon
tana cattle. they will be cheaper in tn,
long run and will produce dividend
from the start, while there lie always
long time to wait befor realizing any
thing on pilgrim cattle, besides the ex
ira unavoidable loss occurring during
the time of their transportation and
the past winter In this territory
There are no more vacant ranges In
Montana to offer such good chances 20
pilgrim cattle az has been presented -
the past; from this time on they VIII
have 10 compete with the native stock
and they are bound TO have the worst
Of the game every time. All that the
cattle men have TO do 10 TO stand 10
their positions and make better prepar'
ations TO prevent Losses. The cattle 10
dustry is Just as good to-day. and ofier'
just as favorable prospects, for the III
ture m In the past. But times are
changing and We must change oul
tactics accordingly. Divide the con
solid ated interest between more indi